Lie Down in Darkness Summary
William Styron

Lie Down in Darkness Summary

William Styron's LIE DOWN IN DARKNESS tells he story of the Loftis family. Milton Loftis lives in the fictional city of Port Warwick, Virginia with his wife Helen and their daughters, Maude and Peyton. The narrative revolves around Helen and Milton's actual and metaphysical journey to bury Peyton from the time her body arrives at the train station in Port Warwick until they reach the funeral home for Peyton's burial. The story of the Loftises ends as desperately as it begins. The narrative proper, however, ends on a flashy note of hope mixed with bittersweet resignation. That being said, LIE DOWN IN DARKNESS also addresses relationships between blacks and whites in the South during the time period. Specifically, the author's commentary focuses on the interactions between Milton, Helen and Ella Swan, their longtime housekeeper and cook. Most of what takes place happens... View more of the Lie Down in Darkness Summary